Taxonomic Account of Datura L. (Solanaceae) in Australia With a Note on Brugmansia Pers

Abstract

A taxonomic account of the genus Datura in Australia is presented. Wild populations of D. stramonium, D. ferox, D, leichhardtii, D, inoxia and D. wrightii occur and D. metel is cultivated and occasionally persistent. A comprehensive revision of the genus has not been attempted, but full descriptions based on a study of herbarium specimens, plants in the field and cultivated material are provided for each of the six species, of which five are naturalized aliens. D. leichhardtii has generally been considered an Australian endemic but the closely related species D. pruinosa (which may be conspecific) occurs in central America. This raises the biogeographical problems of trans-Pacific distribution. Although the application of names is in accordance with current usage, some nomenclatural problems are outlined. A key for the identification of species is presented. The genus Brugmansia, often treated as a section of Datura, is represented in Australia only by species in cultivation.